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Increased IL-35 serum levels in systemic sclerosis and association with pulmonary interstitial involvement

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Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess the serum IL-35 level and its association with clinical manifestations in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). IL-35 serum levels were measured by ELISA from 56 patients with SSc and 53 healthy controls. Association of IL-35 serum levels were sought with clinical parameters. Serum IL-35 levels were significantly higher in SSc patients (5.08 ± 0.76 pg/ml) than in healthy individuals (1.89 ± 0.69 pg/ml; p < 0.0001). Patients with lung fibrosis had higher IL-35 levels than those without fibrosis (7.75 ± 1.36 and 3.08 ± 0.70 pg/ml, respectively, p = 0.0022). IL-35 is elevated in the serum of patients with SSc and is associated with lung fibrosis. Our findings suggest that this cytokine can have a role in fibrotic diseases, but further studies are needed to address the role of IL-35 in the pathogenesis of SSc.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Brazilian National Research Council, the Research Foundation of Pernambuco State, and the National Institute for Science and Technology in Pharmaceutical Innovation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Novas Abordagens Terapêuticas, Recife, Brazil

    Andréa Tavares Dantas, Sayonara Maria Calado Gonçalves, Michelly Cristiny Pereira, Rafaela Silva Guimarães Gonçalves, Moacyr Jesus Barreto de Melo Rego, Ivan da Rocha Pitta & Maira Galdino da Rocha Pitta

  2. Serviço de Reumatologia do Hospital das Clínicas da UFPE, Recife, Brazil

    Andréa Tavares Dantas, Rafaela Silva Guimarães Gonçalves, Cláudia Diniz Lopes Marques & Angela Luzia Branco Pinto Duarte

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  1. Andréa Tavares Dantas
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  2. Sayonara Maria Calado Gonçalves
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  3. Michelly Cristiny Pereira
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  4. Rafaela Silva Guimarães Gonçalves
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  5. Cláudia Diniz Lopes Marques
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  6. Moacyr Jesus Barreto de Melo Rego
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  7. Ivan da Rocha Pitta
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  8. Angela Luzia Branco Pinto Duarte
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  9. Maira Galdino da Rocha Pitta
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Correspondence to Maira Galdino da Rocha Pitta.

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Dantas, A.T., Gonçalves, S.M.C., Pereira, M.C. et al. Increased IL-35 serum levels in systemic sclerosis and association with pulmonary interstitial involvement. Clin Rheumatol 34, 1621–1625 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-015-3006-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-015-3006-y

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